Irish road users urged to slow down over Christmas period to prevent fatal collisions

An Garda Síochána is conducting a national speed enforcement operation - National Slowdown Day – which runs across Ireland for 24 hours from 12:00am to 11:59pm today, Tuesday December 23, 2025.

The aim of today’s initiative is to promote safer driving and reduce speed-related collisions nationwide, coinciding with increased road use for Christmas holidays.

READ NEXT: Driving Home for Christmas singer Chris Rea has died

So far this National Slowdown Day, members of An Garda Síochána, along with GoSafe mobile and static safety cameras, have detected nearly 150 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit.

Examples of high speeds detected include:

• 119km/h in a 50km/hr zone on the Drummartin Link Road in Dublin 14
• 139 km/h in a 60km/hr zone on the Dublin Road in Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow
• 120 km/h in a 80km/hr zone on the N52 road in Mounthenry, Birr, Co. Offaly
• 156 km/h in a 100km/hr zone on the N11 road in Kereight, Crossabeg, Co. Wexford
• 163 km/h in a 120km/hr zone on the M6 road in Killavally, Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath

An Garda Síochána conducts several high-profile National SlowDown Days each year, aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of speeding.

READ NEXT: Irish people warned as government makes change to St Stephen's Day bank holiday

These operations serve to remind motorists of the serious risks associated with excessive or inappropriate speed, promote greater compliance with speed limits and support efforts to deter and detect dangerous driving behaviours.

Driving above the legal speed limit – or at a speed unsuitable for current road, weather or traffic conditions – not only endangers the driver but also puts other road users at significant risk.

Excessive speed reduces a driver’s ability to respond to unexpected hazards and increases the likelihood of losing control, which can result in serious or fatal collisions.

Speeding can have devastating consequences – not just for the driver, but for other innocent road users. The faster a vehicle is travelling, the more severe the impact in the event of a collision.

READ NEXT: Increases to social welfare and post-Christmas payment dates in Ireland revealed

An Garda Síochána continues to actively work with relevant partners as per the Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030 ‘a strategic, co-ordinated and multi-sectoral approach to road safety across government and key stakeholders will be critical to achieving a safer, better Ireland for all’.

This involves approximately 180 measures for delivery by all partners to the Strategy across areas such as education, technology, information sharing, legislation, roads infrastructure and enforcement.